1706.

notwithstanding the Difficulties of the Ground. A. C. In this laft Action, to the Succefs whereof the Count de Biffy, the Marquis d'Eftrades, my Lord Galmoy, and the Sicur de Forfat, contributed very much, not being able to come fooner up with the Troops they commanded, the Enemy had above 2500 Men k'd or taken. Thus ended the Battle of Calcinato, in which the Imperialifts had above 3000 Men kill'd, and the like number made 'Prifoners: We took from them 6 Pieces of Cannon, abundance of Baggage, above 1000 Horfes, 24 Colours, and 12 Standards, the King's Troops having fuffer'd no other Lofs than 500 killed and wounded.

On the other hand the Imperialists gave the following Account of the fame Action:

THE Duke of Vendome being arrived in the The Ac Mantuan, and having given Orders to the the Impe count of French Forces to be in a readihiefs to march, Countrialifts of Reventlau, and the other Imperial Generals, held athe fame Council of War, wherein it was refolved to affem-Action. ⚫ble all their Troops on the Chiefa, between Monte

chiari and Calcinato, it being not doubted, but 'that the Duke of Vendofme defign'd to attack their Quarters before the Arrival of Prince Eugene, and the Reinforcements expected from Germany. Thofe Troops march'd with all poffible diligence, and the 17th encamp'd between Montechiari and Calcinato, to the number of 9000 Foot, and 3000 Horse, 'with fome Field-Pieces, the reft of their Artillery being at Gavardo. The Duke of Vendofme having timely notice of their motions, fent a Detachment the 17th to obferve the Imperialifts, with whom they skirmish'd all the day, and the 18th, in the evening, march'd with 55 Batallions, and 66 Squa'drons, with all poffible Secrecy, and in the night 'poffefs'd himself of the Hills about Calcinato, and the 19th in the morning, attacked the Imperial Cavalry with a great deal of Fury. The Germans behaved themfelves very well, and beat back the firft Squadrons of the French, but being feparated from their Foot, which could not come up time enough to fupport them, they were obliged to yield to the Numbers of the Enemy, and retire to the

03

Chiefa,

C. 1706.

Prince Eugene ar rives in

Italy.

Chiefa, and pafs'd 'that River over the Bridge of S. Marc. They attack'd afterwards the Infantry, 'who made a noble Defence, but was likewife obliged to retire towards Gavardo and Salo. The Enemy having purfued them, cut off the Commu'nication between our Troops and Montechiari and Calcinato; whereupon Colonel Arend, who com'manded in the firft, marched out with his Garrison, and fought his way through the Enemy, retiring to Gavardo. The Garrifon of Calcinato, confifting for the moft part of Pruffians, defended themfelves, to the laft extremity, and were almost all cut in Pieces. Prince Eugene, who was arrived fome days before at Roveredo, being inform'd of this "Action, repair'd the fame Evening to Gavardo with all poffible fpeed, and fent Orders to two Palatine Regiments at Bidizoli to march to Salo, and having rallied his Troops, encamp'd between Gavardo and •Limeno, where he was join'd the 20th by fome other Pruffians, and Recruits. His Highnefs fent Orders to fome others Troops in the Trentin to join him, and withdrew fome Batallions from fome Pofts in the Brescian, where they were too much expos'd to the Infults of the French. The Lofs the Germans fuftain'd is varioufly reported, as well as that of the French; but we may fay in general, that the Action was very bloody, and that the number of the Slain is pretty equal on both fides, tho' it muft 'be own'd, that the French have taken a great number of Prifoners, with feveral Pieces of Cannon, and forc'd the Imperialifts from their Pofts. A great many Soldiers, who were fuppos'd to be kill'd, or taken, are return'd to their Regiments, and after a ftrict Review, there are but 2000 Men miffing. General Valkenftein, the Count de Vehlen, and feve"ral other Officers were taken Prifoners, and the "Generals Visconti and Grimaldi Wounded; of the French, the Marquis de St. Germain Beaupré, du Heren, Belabre, and fome other General Officers are faid to be Wounded. The Pruffians distinguish'd themfelves very much in this Action.

Though thefe Relations differ in feveral Circumftances, yet they agree in this, that the Germans loft the Day. The Duke of Vendefme improving this Advantage, oblig'd them to abandon Gavardo, Salo,

and

and all their Pofts in the Bréfcian; from whence A. C. Prince Eugene took care, however, to fend the Ar- 1706. tillery and Ammunition to Riva, and retir'd that way with his Infantry: The Cavalry making their Retreat along the Chieft, by the Valley of Sabio, or Rocca d'Anfo. The Duke of Vendofme endeavour'd to fall on the Rear of the Imperialifts, but found it too difficult. Yet, 'tis to be obferv'd, that the Germans not having time to fend away all their Artillery, threw fome Pieces into the Lake de Garda.

The Court of France was fo elevated upon this Succefs, that their Monarch wrote the following pompous Letter to the Archbishop of Paris, to caufe Te Deum to be fung:

Coufin,

The

the Arch

Paris.

"I Could not have hop'd for a more happy and French fignal Succefs at the beginning of this Cam- King's paign, than that with which my Coufin the Duke Letter to of Vendofine has open'd it in Italy. The Victory bishop of he has gain'd was fo foon after his Return to the Army, that the Enemy, who were intrench'd between Montechiaro and Calcinato, were not inform'd of his Arrival, but by their Defeat. The advantagious Poft they were in, feem'd to fecure them from any Attack, and 'tis almoft incredible they could be forc'd in it: But the Experience of the Duke of Vendofme, the Valour of my Soldiers, and the juft Confidence they have in him, have furmounted all Obftacles. After having been oblig'd to break their Order of Battle, and form it anew 'feveral Times under a continual Fire, to get over feveral Ditches and Canals, to come at the rifing Grounds were the Enemy were intrench'd; they fuftain'd their laft Difcharge within half Pistol-fhot, without firing one Shot, and afterwards Sword in 'Hand, forc'd them in their Pofts. The Enemy making a vigorous Refiftance, their Lofs was very confiderable. Above 3000 of them fell in the Field of Battle, above 3000 were made Prifoners; 6 Pieces of Cannon, above 1000 Horfes, 25 Colours, and 12 Standards were taken. The Duke of Vendofme making the best Ufe of his Victory, and their Confternation, march'd without Lofs of time to Salo and Gavardo, where was the reft of their Ar

،

A. C.my: But at his Approach they betook themfolyes 1706. to Flight, with fo great Precipitation, towards the Mountains of the Trentin, that in the general Rout they abandon'd their Arms and Baggage, and threw 4 of their heaviest Pieces of Cannon into the "Lake of Garda. So compleat a Victory, is the more pleafing to me, because I have loft but very few Officers and Soldiers; and is the more advantagious, because the Enemy having now no other Pofts than thofe they had on the Adige when they entred Italy 5 Years ago, the Duke of Vendofme is in a Condition to execute with like Succefs, the other Projects that I have form'd. I would not defer returning Thanks to God for fo glorious an Occurrence, and I write you this Letter, to tell you my Intention is; that you caufe Te Deum to be fung in "the Metropolitan Church of my good City of Paris, &c. Verfailles, May 4. 1706.

Whilft the Duke of Vendofme took Meafures to keep the Germans at a Bay, by cafting up great Intrenchments all along the Adige, the Duke of la Feuillade made vaft Preparations for the Siege of Turin; Advances and having appointed Montanaro for the Rendezvous towards the of all his Troops, which were quarter'd in the MontSiege of ferrat, Mantuan, and neighbouring Country, about Turin.

40 Battalions, and 12 Regiments of Horfe and Dragoons, arriv'd the 8th of May, N. S. near that City, and encamp'd there till the roth. Upon intelligence of the Enemy's Motions, the Duke of Savoy, who had refolv'd to defend his Capital to the laft Extremity, and in order to that, had, with wonderful Diligence and Application, added new Works to its Fortifications, fent General Daun (or Thaun) to Afti, to order all the Germans, and other Troops in Garrifon there to march to Turin, leaving only a Lieutenant Colonel with 200 Men in the Cattle, and 2. Battalions of Militia,with about 30Huffars to guard the Out-works of the Town. At the fame time, his Royal Highness order'd the German Horfe to encamp at St. Michael, and his own Horfe at Alpignian: and Directions were alfo fent to feveral other fmall Garrifons to come to Turin. The 10th and 11th, the Enemy march'd from Montanaro, patling the Ri vers of Orco and Malone, to Ciria, on the Banks of

the

the Stura, where they made a Bridge; and the next A. C. Day paffed that River, and encamp'd at Druint. 1706. The Troops which were on their March from Afti receiv'd Orders to ftop at Quieri; but the Train of Artillery came ftreight to Turin. Five Piedmontefe Battalions of that Garrifon, were order'd to take Poft in the new Redoubts on the Mountain of Turin, to prevent any Surprize, and, at the fame time, Or-. ders were given to provide thofe Works with Cannon. The 13th, the Enemy march'd from Druint, and came within fight of Turin, their Army extending from Lucento to the Lodge of the Old Park near the Po. Hereupon, his Royal Highness got on Horfeback, vifited the feveral Pofts about the Place, and ordered feveral Houfes on the Doria, within Cannon-fhot of the Citadel, to be pulled down. He gave Directions for pofting fome Guards, for placing the Cannon upon the Ramparts, and for the Troops which were at Quieri, to come to Turin: In fhort, he forgot nothing which might contribute to the Defence of theCity. The 14th, hisRoyal Highness was on Horfeback by 5 of the Clock in the morning, to view the Enemy's Camp, and obferve their Situation as well as the Works which they were making. He had not been long abroad before he perceiv'd a ftrong Detachment of Horfe and Foot in Motion, and that they directed their March along the Doria, towards Pianezza. His Royal Highnefs left an Adjutant to obferve their March, and continued to view their Camp, and to vifit feveral Pofts along the Dorin. About Noon the Adjutant brought Word, That theDetachment had join'd 15 Battalions which came from Suza, under the Command of M. Givodan, between Alpignian and Pianezza, and thar the whole was Encamped between Pianezza and Lucento; That they had pofted a strong Guard, with fome Cannon, in the Castle of Pianezza; and that they had begun to work on a Redoubt to cover their Workmen, who were order'd to make a Bridge in that Place over the Doria. The Duke of Savoy's Parties that were on the other fide,diftrub'd the Enemies Pioneers very much; but nevertheless they carried on their Line and Redoubts, from the Po to the Doria, in the fame Places as they were the Year before. The fame Day the German Infantry May 14

arriv'd

*